Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy at different frequencies and durations on rotator cuff tendon-to-bone healing in a rat model.
Author: Huegel J1, Choi DS1, Nuss CA1, Minnig MCC1, Tucker JJ1, Kuntz AF1, Waldorff EI2, Zhang N2, Ryaby JT2, Soslowsky LJ3
Affiliation:
1McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
2Department of Research and Clinical Affairs, Orthofix, Lewisville, TX, USA.
3McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: soslowsk@upenn.edu.
Conference/Journal: J Shoulder Elbow Surg.
Date published: 2017 Nov 22
Other:
Pages: S1058-2746(17)30603-1 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.09.024. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 260
BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears affect millions of individuals each year, often requiring surgical intervention. However, repair failure remains common. We have previously shown that pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy improved tendon-to-bone healing in a rat rotator cuff model. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of both PEMF frequency and exposure time on rotator cuff healing.
METHODS: Two hundred ten Sprague-Dawley rats underwent acute bilateral supraspinatus injury and repair followed by either Physio-Stim PEMF or high-frequency PEMF therapy for 1, 3, or 6 hours daily. Control animals did not receive PEMF therapy. Mechanical and histologic properties were assessed at 4, 8, and 16 weeks.
RESULTS: Improvements in different mechanical properties at various endpoints were identified for all treatment modalities when compared with untreated animals, regardless of PEMF frequency or duration. Of note, 1 hour of Physio-Stim treatment showed significant improvements in tendon mechanical properties across all time points, including increases in both modulus and stiffness as early as 4 weeks. Collagen organization improved for several of the treatment groups compared with controls. In addition, improvements in type I collagen and fibronectin expression were identified with PEMF treatment. An important finding was that no adverse effects were identified in any mechanical or histologic property.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that PEMF therapy has a positive effect on rat rotator cuff healing for each electromagnetic fundamental pulse frequency and treatment duration tested in this study.
Copyright © 2017 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: PEMF; animal model; rat; rotator cuff; supraspinatus repair; tendon healing
PMID: 29174271 DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.09.024
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